VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES VOLUNTEERS, AND SEARCH AND RESCUE VOLUNTEERS

(a) In this section: (1) "Emergency medical services volunteer" has the meaning assigned by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code. (2) "Search and rescue volunteer" means an individual who without remuneration, except reimbursement for expenses, provides services for or on behalf of an organization that conducts search and rescue activities. (b) A state employee who is a volunteer firefighter, an emergency medical services volunteer, or a search and rescue volunteer is entitled to a leave of absence without a deduction in salary to attend fire service, emergency medical services, or search and rescue training conducted by a state agency or institution of higher education. Leave without a deduction in salary under this subsection may not exceed five working days in a fiscal year. (c) A state agency or institution of higher education may grant leave without a deduction in salary to a volunteer firefighter, an emergency medical services volunteer, or a search and rescue volunteer for the purpose of allowing the firefighter, emergency medical services volunteer, or search and rescue volunteer to respond to emergency fire, medical, or search and rescue situations if the agency or institution has an established policy for granting that leave.